Move too fast through life and you miss the whole point of it, Shubman told you once.

You felt it deep within your bones, echoing in your heart along with the crowd singing along.

"Getting emotional?" Jonita, who was beside you onstage, asked and you nodded. "Me too."

She wrapped an arm around you, holding the mic away as the bass dropped.

The stars in the sky weren't so beautiful as you looked at the thousands on the ground.

Your eyes raked over the crowd, hoping to find someone.

Turning towards a different direction, your eyes repeated the same, stopping only when you recognized the person.

Wearing a mask, a hood over the head, but those eyes you knew unmistakably.

Before your chorus with Benny Dayal came up, you smiled while looking at him in the crowd.

Shubman made it to your concert after all.

-

"So what's next for you and your music?" The anchor, hired by the concert promoters, put her question forward.

"As for music, I've signed for another film's soundtrack," you stated. "I can't disclose the movie yet. And after that, I think I need to ask my manager."

The questions went on for a while to the temporary band of sorts you guys formed for the concert.

About tours, upcoming album releases before it was you again.

"And for Aditi," she started and looked up, nodding with a small smile so that she could go on. "We heard about your projects on the professional front. When you're not working, do you have any other hobbies?"

"About hobbies," you thought for a moment in your head. "I've always loved reading. So, maybe that one."

"The reason why I asked that question is, when I'm not hosting shows or events, I like watching movies," she started. "Like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan."

I mean, you tried, but the smile was too strong to control.

"Anything like that?" The anchor asked again.

"No," you shook your head, still smiling but you knew the excited crowd wasn't convinced. "Just books."

"I'm guessing the genre. Maybe romance?" She asked and you shook your head, mouthing a 'no.'

Your fellow artists had a good time smiling too, having got the hint.

Your anchor kept the energy high, even as it was time to conclude the night.

"We had a Shub(h) Shuruat," she said again, glancing at you with a knowing smile. "Now it's time for us to sign off."

Having ensured the smooth running of the concert, after you all gave your speech expressing gratitude, she thanked the fans, the sponsors, made the special mentions, and all.

Ten minutes later, you got backstage, feeling a bit tired and content at the same time.

"You thought I'd be late, didn't you?" Shubman, who was waiting for you, asked as soon as you appeared in front of him.

"I thought you wouldn't make it at all," you said as he spread his arms for a hug. "Seb told me your flight was delayed."

"Couldn't miss your concert after all," he replied as you crashed into his chest. "You did great, my liege."

"Thank you," you mumbled while he kissed the top of your head.

"Are you crying?" He asked and you shook your head as a no, sniffling. "Are you sure?"

"I'm just getting emotional," you raised your head up. "I don't even know why I'm crying."

"It's okay," Shubman mumbled, kissing the tip of your nose.

"I'll get changed, okay?" You said as he wiped the tears off your cheeks. "And then we'll leave for the hotel."

"Okay," he replied, and just as he was about to kiss you.

"Aditi, are you done?" Koel's voice came first, followed by her walking in.

The two of you were quick to pull away though.

"I literally just walked down," you looked at her with a 'please leave us alone' look.

"Fine," she said and gave Shubman a quick wave. "I'm staying behind for a meeting with the organizers. So no chit-chatting for more than ten minutes. You should be sleeping."

"You're saying that?" You asked, ready to make your way towards your vanity room.

"Only because you have another recording at 6 am."

Time skip~

"And Lay's inside burger wasn't so bad," you said as you both waited for the elevator. "You know, the blue one. The red one is perfect by itself."

"The light green one?" Shubman asked and you shrugged a little.

"I like it at times," you saw the elevator doors open and made your way inside. "Mostly at first bite."

As the doors closed, there was no one else. And believing there were no cameras inside.

"I don't know what to feel about the orange one," you said as he leaned back on one side. "Never tried dark green, so I can't say anything about it."

When his eyes bore into yours, you moved forward, letting yourself be pulled into his arms.

"We're just mentioning the colors," Shubman said as you laid your head on his shoulder.

"I'm too lazy to remember the name of each flavor," you buried your face in his neck, voice muffled as you spoke.

"What about the green tea flavored KitKat?" He asked while your arms wrapped around his torso.

"Love green tea, love KitKat," you tilted your head up. "Together, no."

"You could at least try," Shubman mumbled and kissed your cheek.

"No," you mouthed again before the elevator doors opened. "What's your room number?"

You asked as you walked the empty hallways, and he pointed to the door right in front of yours.

Using the key card, you unlocked your hotel room first, opening the door so that you could stand leaning against the frame.

"Do I have to leave?" He asked, leaning on the other side too. "And come by only in the morning?"

Shubman's body swayed a little forward, his lips placing a kiss on yours.

"Do you think you can check the view from my balcony?" You asked back.

He blinked at the unceremonious question, but nodded anyway, making his way inside.

The tiny silver pendant, hanging from the chain around your neck, glowed in the dark until you inserted the key card for the lights.

He used to think that the treble clef symbol you wore was 'S' in cursive. For him.

Ishan had to do the explanation.

"Okay, twenty five floors above ground," Shubman looked around the balcony. "The view seems to be of city lights and-"

His words halted when his eyes fell on the small table.

A bottle of champagne sitting in a bucket of ice, butterscotch mousse cake, margherita pizza, butter chicken and aloo paratha.

You've told him once that you loved extremes together.

"Not a date," you added. "Mind you." Shubman's eyes were on you again. "You've been away for too long."

Just a sense of normalcy. Having fun in the time you're spending with each other.

You made him feel warm and fuzzy all over.

Feels like you're jumping the gun?

Nearly a year back, it sounded fun to fake date someone.

Now that he thought about it; people who might just look at you both and think, you remind them so much of this or that.

The way they relate it.

Not obsessively. Rather, in a childlike manner.

Becoming just another example for why they even inadvertently feel a certain way when it comes to love, unbelieving.

Shubman held your hand, bringing it up to his lips.

The thought that this didn't mean forever was disappearing, and he mumbled, "Thank you."

You smiled, accepting his kiss before you pinched his cheek, not really thinking of anything else.

Maybe you and Shubman were like summer love. Not destined to last.